Smart cards to end bus fares

A scheme that could ultimately spell the end of passengers scrabbling for the right change as they board buses in Coventry is to be piloted by Centro, which co-ordinates public transport in the West Midlands.

A scheme that could ultimately spell the end of passengers scrabbling for the right change as they board buses in Coventry is to be piloted by Centro, which co-ordinates public transport in the West Midlands.

The authority is introducing a smart card in an effort to shorten travelling times.

Card holders will pay their fares electronically, bypassing the delay of drivers having to deal with cash transactions.

To ensure the technology works as it should, the scheme will first be tried out on 57,000 senior citizens and disabled people in Coventry who hold concessionary passes entitling them to free travel.

Although they don't pay a fare when they board the bus, the credit card-sized smart card has a microchip inside it carrying details of journeys undertaken, to make it easier for local authorities to reimburse bus opera-tors for the free travel.

The card also contains information on the name, age, address and date of birth of the holder and a reference number that can only be accessed by Centro.

The #1.1million year-long pilot programme will start in the autumn.

Cathryn Jeeves, project manager, said: "For pass holders, smart cards will be more secure and can be replaced more quickly and efficiently.

"For Centro, we hope the information on journeys undertaken will help us reimburse operators for those journeys more efficiently and more accurately."

She added: "The pilot is being introduced to allow Centro to assess the benefits that the technology can bring and to inform a decision on whether to introduce them (smart cards) across the West Midlands."